Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2013/ib/paper-1/9e/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2013 ib Paper 1 9E Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-07
The external direct sum of vector spaces consists of pairs with componentwise operations. For subspaces of one ambient space, the sum of vector subspaces is . The addition map from the external direct sum onto this subspace is surjective, with kernel . This kernel is isomorphic to the intersection. The rank-nullity theorem, together with , proves the dimension formula for a sum of subspaces.
For the supplied bases, solving for annihilating linear forms givesEach basis has rank three, so these hyperplanes are the whole subspaces. The two independent equations make the intersection two-dimensional. Imposing the requested zero components yieldsBoth satisfy the two equations and are independent, since their first components differ while . Hence they form the required basis.
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